Bottle cap



Jan. 26, 1932. w. E. RICHTER 1,842,570

BOTTLE CAP Filed April 8, 1929 I N VEN TOR. wzutw E. Riozhtam A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CAP AppIication filed April 8, 1929. Serial No. 353,593.

My invention relates to caps for bottles and resides in a novel construction whereby the cap is removably locked in position on the bottle.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a cap for bottles of the class above mentioned which may be applied to and removed from the bottle without the use of tools or instruments of any kind and which may be used repeatedly if so desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bottle cap of the class mentioned which will effectively seal a. bottle to which it is applied, so as to retain therein considerable pressure such as naturally develops from carbonated fluids or the like which such bottles may contain.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cap which may be applied to bottles of different sizes.

Various other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the bottle cap applied to the mouth of a bottle showing the ciamping means in open position, the

dotted lines showing the cap being applied to the bottle.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is similar to Figure l but shows the clamping mechanism in closed position.

Fig. 4 illustrates a top View of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the cap blank.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the cap blank applied to the neck of a bottle.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a cup-shaped cap member which may be formed in any suitable manner such as stamping or pressing from a blank of suitable metal to provide the cup wall 2'. The bottle 3 is provided with a suitable lip or bead which may extend entirely or partially around the neck or which may comprise one or more notches in the side of the neck.

The cup member is provided with suitable packing means 19 in the bottom thereof and is adapted to be inserted over the mouth of the bottle with the cup wall 2 encircling the bead 4 thereof. i

The wall I of the cup isprovided with a pair of oppositely aligned apertures 6 and 7 into which are pivotally journaled the opposite ends 8 and 9 of a U-shaped clamping lever 10. The legs of the latter are provided with return bends 11 and 12 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and S and are slightly bowed longitudinally for a purpose to be later set forth.

Pivotally j ournaled in the return bend portions of the U-shaped clamping lever, but in off-center relationship to the pivotal axis thereof, is. a bail-like spring member 18 the intermediate portion of which is curved as at 14 to conform to the necl: of the bottle immediately below the bead. The bail member is preferably provided with substantial initial tension so that the ournals thereof must be sprung into their pivotal position and the tension will maintain both the bail member and clamping lever in their proper pivotal position. The portions of the bail member between the journals and the curved section 14: are preferably bowed as at 15 and 16 to impart desirable flexibility to the bail member and to further provide an upper limiting stop for the clamping lever 10.

The wall 2 of the cup member 1 at one side of the apertures 6 and 7 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending projections 17 and 18 which may be suitably formed by crimping, pressing or in any suitable manner. I preferably provide two of such proj ections spaced 120 apart with respect to the center of the cap so that the projections together with the bail member will provide a three-point, equally spaced contact below the bottle head when in clamped position; but it is understood, however, that any suitable number of projections may be employed or a semi-circumferential bead may be substituted in lieu thereof. It is advisable that the projections or bead tightly engage the bottle just below its head when the clamping lever is in locked position and I preferably provide the projections with an inclined upper face as be explained as follows: The cap is inserted over the mouth of the bottle as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 with the clamping lever in raised position. The clamping lever is then lowere d causing aradial movement of the bail member 13 toward the axis of the bottle whichwill result in the projections and bail member tightly engaging the bottle immediately below the bead. At the same time the lowerposition of the slot, with respect to the journal axis of the clamping lever .and inclined upper surfaces of the'projections contacting withthe lower face of the bead, will cause a slightidownward movement of the cap to compress the gasket and cause an effective seal between the packing member and the mouth of the bottle. Thelegs of the U-shaped member are sufficiently bowed and so proportioned that when the base portion of the U- shaped lever engages the neck of the bottle the journals of the bail member will be slightly past the pivotal axis of the clamping lever as is clearl shown in the drawings to provide an O1 -center locking means for 7 preventing accidental removal of the cap.

lVhile I have disclosed my invention as applied to'bottles, it is to be understood that it might well be applied vto other vessels or containers and that the term bottle as used in the specification and claims is intended to include any such vessels or containers.

Having thus described the specific form of my invention, it is understood that various modifications may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I; What I desire to protect by is: r

1. A locking device for bottle capscomprising inwardly extending projections in the side wall of the cap, the side wall of said cap having a transverse slot oppositely disposed from said projections, a- U-shaped clamping lever having its ends pivotally mounted in said cap, the legs of said U- shaped member being adapted'to bridge the neck of the bottle, return bend portions-in the legs of said U-shaped member adjacent the ends thereof, longitudinal bows inthe legs of said U-shaped member between said return bend portions and the base thereof, a bail-like member extending through said slot and havingthe ends thereofpivotally mounted in the return bend portions of said U Letters Patent adjacent said bead, and outwardly bowed sections intermediate said arcuate portion and the ends of said bail member.

2. A locking device for bottle caps of the class described comprising inwardly extending projections in the side wall of the l cap at one sidelthereof, the side wall of said cap having a transverse slot oppositely disposed from said projections, a U-shaped clamping lever having its ends pivot-ally mounted in said cap, the legs of said U- shaped membervbeing adaptedto bridge the neck of said bottle, return bend portions in the legs ofsaid u-shaped member adjacent the ends thereof, longitudinal bows in the legs. of said U-shaped member between said return bend portions and the base thereof, a resilient locking member extending through said slot and having the ends thereof pivotally connected to the return bend portions of said U-shaped clamping lever in off-center relationship ,to the pivotal axis thereof whereby pivotalmovement of the clamping member will cause a radial movementof said locking member to removably engage the neck of the bottle.

3. A seal for bottles having a bead at the mouth thereof comprising a cup-shaped cap having packing means therein and adapted to fit over the mouth of the bottle, inwardly extending projections in the wall of said cap, radially movable means oppositely disposed from said projections and adapted to removably engage the neck of said bottle adjacent the bead thereof, and locking means for preventing the accidental removal of said radially movable means from engagement with-the neck of said bottle.

4. A seal for bottles having a head at the mouth thereof comprising a cup-shaped cap.

having a packing member therein and adapted to be applied to the mouth of the bottle, an inwardly extending projection in the wall ofsa-id" cap, and means mounted on said cap to removably engage the neclrof said bottle and tocooperate with said projection to lock said cap on .said bottleand thereby effect an eflicient fluid seal between the cap and the bottle.

5.VA locking means for bottle caps comprising an inwardly extending projection in the side wall of the cap; and movable means carried by said cap oppositely disposed from said' projections adapted to removably engage the neck of saidbottle and cooperate with said projections to maintain a fluid, seal between'the cap, and the bottle. j

6. A seal for bottles having a bead at the mouth thereof comprising a cup-shaped cap havingpacking means therein and adapted to be inserted over the mouth of the bottle,

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an inwardly extending projection in the wall of said cap adapted to tightly engage the neck of the bottle below the bead thereof and radially movable means in said cap oppositely disposed from said projection adapted to removably engage the neck of the bottle to provide an effective seal between said cap and the bottle.

I. A seal for bottles having a head at the mouth thereof comprising a cap adapted to close the mouth of the bottle, packing means between said mouth and said cap, an inwardly extending projection carried by said cap adapted to engage the neck of the bottle below the bet d thereof, and a spring member rc novably engaging the neck of said bottle opposite said projection to thereby effectively seal the mouth of said bottle.

8. it locking device for bottles comprising a cup-shaped cap having a packing therein and adapted to fit over the mouth of the bottle, a pair of inwardly extending projections in the side wall of said cap adapt-ed to contact with the neck of the bottle, a spring member oppositely disposed from said projections adapted to removably engage the neck of the bottle, said spring member and projections providing an equally spaced, three-point contact between said cap and said bottle.

ll, it seal for bottles having a head at the mouth thereof comprising a cup member adapted to lit over the mouth of the bottle, inwardly extending projections in the wall ot Ml cup member, inclined upper surfaces on said projections for engaging the bead of said bottle, and means oppositely disposed from said projections for removably engagin the neck of said bottle, said means coopersting with said projections for eilecting an elncient fluid seal between said cap and bottle.

10. it seal for bottles having a bead at the mouth thereof comprising a cup member having a packing member therein and adapted to lit over the mouth of the bottle, inwardly extending projections in the Wall of said cup member, inclined upper surfaces on said pr0- jections, the wall of said cup member having a slot oppositely disposed from said projections, a til-shaped clamping member pivotally mounted in the wall of said cup upwardly displaced from said slot, return bend por tions in said ll-shaped member, adjacent the ends thereof, a bail member extending through said slot and pivotally connected with said return bend portions in otl'-center relationship to the pivotal axis of the clamping member whereby movement of said elan'lping member will cause a radial movement of said bail member and movement of said cap longitudinally of the axis of the bottle to compress said packing member,

Ill. ln a locking device for bottle caps, a clamping member pivotally connected to the cap, a spring bail member pivotally connected to said clamping member and having initial tension for maintaining said members and the cap in assembled relation.

12. In a locking device for bottle caps, a spring member having the ends thereof pivotally connected to the cap and an intermediate curved portion adapted to removably engage the neck of the bottle, and outwardly bowed sections between the intermediate curved portion and the pivoted end portion to impart desired flexibility to said spring member.

13. A seal for bottles having a bead at the mouth thereof comprising a cap havin a packing member therein and adapted to fit over the mouth of the bottle, said cap having inwardly extending portions adapted to engage the neck of the bottle sub-adjacent the bead thereof, a radially movable member connected to said cap and adapted to engage the neck of the bottle sub-adjacent the bead thereof opposite the inwardly extending portions, and means for radially moving said member.

14. A seal for bottles having a bead at the mouth thereof comprising a cup member having a packing therein and adapted to fit over the mouth of the bottle, said cup member having inwardly extending portions adapted to engage the neck of the bottle sub-adjacent the bead thereof, a radially movable member oppositely disposed from the inwardly extending portion and adapted to engage the neck of the bottle sub-adj acent the head thereof, anda clamping member pivotally connected to opposite side walls of the cup member and operatively connected to the radially movable member.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this 4th day of April, A. D. 1929.

WALTER E, RICHTER. 

